Tape-cutting and contact feed mechanism

ABSTRACT

A cutting and feeding device for severing very small segments of predetermined length from a strip of feed material with a minimum of burring and feeding the small segments to a subsequent processing operation in a desired orientation. A reciprocating knife edge cooperates with a fixed knife edge to cut the small pieces from a strip fed into the cutter, and to advance the small pieces into a curved guide which guides the pieces through 90*. A reciprocating finger, synchronized with the cutters, pushes the pieces around the curved guide for delivery to the next operation. The device is particularly suitable for cutting precious metal electrical contacts for subsequent welding to a conductor strip.

States Patent white Keusch [151 3,635,110 [451 Jan. 18,1972

[54] TAPE-CUTTING AND CONTACT FEED MECISM [72] Inventor: Andre Keusch,Montreal, Quebec, Canada [73] Assignee: Northern Electric CompanyLimited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 30,737

[52] US. Cl ..83/l49, 83/150, 83/165, 83/389, 83/580, 83/588, 29/630,219/79 [51] Int. Cl ..B26d 5/20 [58] Field ofSearch ..83/1l2, 149, 150,165, 389, 83/382, 580, 588; 29/630; 219/79, 80

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,010,350 11/1961 Kavinski..83/149X 3,307,440 3/1967 Hoyt ..83/150X 3,322,013 5/1967 Felix..83/588X Primary Examiner-James M. Meister An0rneyPhilip J. Erickson [57] ABSTRACT A cutting and feeding device for severing very smallsegments of predetennined length from a strip of feed material with aminimum of burring and feeding the small segments to a subsequentprocessing operation in a desired orientation. A reciprocating knifeedge cooperates with a fixed knife edge to cut the small pieces from astrip fed into the cutter, and to advance the small pieces into a curvedguide which guides the pieces through 90. A reciprocating finger,synchronized with the cutters, pushes the pieces around the curved guidefor delivery to the next operation. The device is particularly suitablefor cutting precious metal electrical contacts for subsequent welding toa conductor strip.

19 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN! 8 m2 SHEET 2 OF 4 IN VE TORZOLLOO WV H ZOQHGO 0 QQQ A rkv PATENIED JMH 8 B72 SHEET 4 0F 4 IA ENTORTAPE-CUTTING AND CONTACT FEED MECHANISM This invention relates to anovel cutting and feeding device. In particular the invention relates toa device for cutting very small contacts from a feed strip with aminimum of burring and of closely controlled length, and subsequentlymoving the pieces around a 90 curved track to feed the pieces to awelding operation in a desired orientation.

One of the principal difficulties of cutters according to the prior artis the formation of burrs on the contact pieces. These burrs becomesignificantly more important as the size of the contact pieces decreasesand often cause jamming in the guides to the welding electrodes. Astechnology advances and printed circuits and the like become smallerthere is a need for an even smaller and more accurately dimensionedcontact, which must be welded to the relay circuit. Machine speedsincrease so that it is necessary to feed the contact to the weldingelectrode stations at speeds of up to about 200 parts per minute or evenmore, without jamming in the guide. In some cases the contact pieces arerequired to be as small as 0.034 inches long and high-speed handling ofsuch pieces is relatively difficult. The handling problem is compoundedsomewhat because the pieces must be presented to the welding electrodein a precise orientation. Most contact pieces are composite materials,such as bonded nickel-palladium tape. Palladium is required for longwear on the electrical contact surface and the nickel provides a firmand relatively inexpensive substrate which can be welded to the circuit.It is therefore necessary to present the palladium surface uppennost tothe welding electrode, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.Many shapes and types of wire or strip contact materials may beprocessed in the present device with only minor modifications to theshape of the cutter and guides, and the present disclosure is thereforenot to be construed as being limited to any particular shape or size ofcontact feed material.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which willaccurately out small pieces from a strip or wire of feed material, witha minimum of burr, and feed the small pieces in a predeterminedorientation to a subsequent process operation, such as welding, at highspeeds and with a minimum of jamming.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a relativelyhigh-speed cutting and feeding device for cutting and feeding smallpieces of material which is provided with a safety interlock which willprevent damage to the driving mechanism, the knife edges or the feedingdevice in the event of jamming of any part, double feeding or the like.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, as applied to thecutting and feeding of contact material to a welding operation, there isprovided a frame on which a straight and a curved guide means aremounted to provide a material flow path through the device; a clampingmeans to releasably clamp a strip of feed material in the straight guidemeans; a cutter, between the straight guide and the curved guide, to cutpredetermined lengths of material from the strip while it is firmlyclamped in the straight guide, and advance the cut piece into the curvedguide means; finger means, synchronized with the cutting operation, tourge the cut piece around the curved guide for delivery to the contactwelding position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent byreference to the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional elevation of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, in section along line"-11.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 show ing thedriving mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the section IV-IV of FIG. 1, showing theoscillating cutter blade, and is located on the sheet containing FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic section of the cutting device of FIG. 1, showingthe movement of the cutting knife and finger from rest to transportposition. FIG. 5 is located on the sheet containing FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the one embodiment of the inventionshowing the oscillating lever movement, synchronizing mechanism for thefinger device, and safety interlock.

FIG. 7 is a plan view on line VII-VII of FIG. 3 showing the safetyinterlock mechanism, and is located on the sheet containing FIG. 3.

FIGS. 8-11 are schematic sketches showing the relative positions of theoscillating drum and oscillating lever in the rest, clamping, shearingand transfer positions of the lower cutting knife.

FIG. 12 is a schematic sketch showing the safety interlock actuated by ajam or stoppage.

FIG. 13 is a sketch of a cross section of a preferred strip feed to thedevice, and is shown on the sheet containing FIG. 2.

The present apparatus, shown in FIG. 1 is designed to out small segmentsfrom about 0.034 inches to about 0.25 inch long from a strip of feedmaterial 1, fed into the guides above the cutters. The strip is fed froma supply reel (not shown) by a synchronized feeding device known to theart (not shown). The strip 1 is shown in a preferred cross section inFIG. 13. A palladium layer 2 is bonded, by known means, to a nickelsubstrate 4 and drawn to strip or wire. The strip is substantially flatbut preferably has sloping sidewalls so that the exposed palladiumsurface is smaller than the exposed nickel surface. The exposed nickelsurface is provided with a projecting head 6 which is intended for useas a weld bead. It will, of course, be appreciated that many other crosssection wires or strips may be processed and that the presentlydescribed embodiment is merely illustrative and not limiting.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a frame 8 upon which is mounted a straight guide10-12 into which strip 1 may be fed. The two guide members 10 and 12 areheld in proper relationship to each other by screw 14, which may bereleased to facilitate replacement, repair and cleaning. Block 10 issecured to frame 8 by screws II and 13 and is located in a slot 15. Aclamping device shown generally as 16 is mounted within the guide block10 and comprises a clamping piece 18 (FIG. 5) mounted on a shaft 20. Aresilient means, such as a light spring 22 is placed around shaft 20between clamping piece 18 and an endcap 24 which is a sliding fit inblock 10 and into which shaft 20 may slide. Cap 24 is provided with arelief passage 26 so that shaft 20 may slide freely. Light clampingpressure is transmitted to piece 18 via the shaft 20 and endcap 24 fromthe lateral movement of block 28 which is integral with a reciprocatinglever arm 30, pivoted at 32. Lever arm 30 is provided with a roller 34which is urged against a driven cam 36, by the action of a spring 38 onthe lever arm 30. The driving mechanism will be described in more detailhereinafter. Spring 38 is mounted in a housing 40 sliding in a block 42rigidly mounted on frame 8 by bolts 43 and 45. Bolts 43 and 45 alsoserve to secure frame 8 of the device to a massive machine frame shownin skeleton at 47 in FIG. 2, so that the present invention may berigidly installed on a production line installation. An oscillatingcutter, indicated generally as 44, is detachably secured to block 28 bya pair of setscrews 46 (FIGS. 1 and 4) secured in cutter block 48. Ashaped spacer piece 50 which slides in guide tracks 51 in block 10, asshown in the rest position A in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 4, is provided withshoulders 52 which are resiliently urged against shoulders 54 in block48 by a spring 56 in housing 58. The opposite end of spacer 50 isprovided with a slot into which a Carballoy 558 (Registered Trademark)cutter 60 is inserted. Inserts 60 may be turned over or turned end forend to provide four cutting edges between each regrinding operation.Preferably a pair of recesses 62 are provided along the slot tofacilitate lifting rotation and removal of the Carballoy cutter inserts60. A pm'r of shaped guide pieces 64 are provided around cutter 60.Preferably cutter 60 is shaped to accommodate the weld head 6 of thefeed strip 1. During the forward motion of block 28 to the clampingposition, block 48 advances, compressing a relatively weak spring 56which transmits an additional clamping pressure to the feed material 1via the cutter 60. As the block 48 continues to advance the surfaces 66and 68 come into contact, the force on cutter 60 increases and shearingof the strip feed material 1 occurs (Position 8). As soon as shearing ofthe strip has occurred, the tension in spring 56 is released and spacerpiece 50 shoots forward along guide 51 to the transfer position C inwhich the face 70 of the spacer piece 50 abuts stop 72. At this pointthe lever arm 30 remains stationary by the contained clockwise rotationof cam 36 before commencing the return motion drawing block 48, thespaces piece 50 and cutter 60 back to the rest position A. As shown inFIG. 5, the shearing of the feed strip material 1 occurs between thehorizontally moving cutter blade 60 and a vertical stationary blade 74which is inserted in a step in guide member 12. Blade 74 is retained inposition in the guide member 12 and by guides 64 which prevent verticalmovement. Blade 74 may be turned end for end to provide two cuttingedges between regrinds. The spacing between the moving cutter 60 and theguide block and the relationship of the cutter 60 to the fixed cutter 74is of some importance in maintaining a minimum burr in the severedcontact segment 76. It has been found preferable to maintain thedistance between guide 10 and cutter 60 to between about 0.0003 inch and0.0005 inch to provide for sliding clearance and minimum burr. It willbe appreciated that the lowest point of cutter 74 must be aligned asclosely as possible with the upper surface of cutter 60, and it has beenfound that burring is minimized if cutter 74 is provided with a slightlysloping lead in face, of the order of 1 towards the lowest point. Forease of removing cutting debris and cleaning, the trailing face 79 maybe cut away at an angle of about 30 to the horizontal. It is believedthat pressure exerted by spring 56 against the feed strip 1 beforecutting and the carefully controlled face angle of the stationary cutteris at least partly responsible for the substantially burr-free formationof the contacts 76. It will, of course, be appreciated that FIG. 5 is insketch form only and that the burr formation therein is not inproportion, being exaggerated for the sake of clarity.

As previously described, immediately the shearing action is complete,spring 46 exerts a forward pressure on cutter 60 so that it advances toposition C and ejects segment 76 from the cutting plane. In addition,the motion of cutter 60 between position B and position C cleans thecutting plane of cutting dirt and debris which is an added advantage inthat this reduces the possibility of jamming or excessive wear on thecutting edges.

As the segment 76 is moved to the C position, a finger arm 78simultaneously commences a downward movement to urge the segment intoand around a curved track 80 mounted on a block 82 which is secured onframe 8 by screw 84. Finger arm 78 is pivoted from a pivot 86 of frame 8and is preferably driven via a linkage, to be described hereinafter,from the same drive means which operates lever arm 30. Track 80 is aquadrant of a circle so that the contact segment 76 is turned through anangle of 90 in traversing the track, thus presenting the contact segment76 in the desired orientation to the succeeding operation which isnormally a welding operation to a contact substrate of strip presentedtransverse to the flow path of the segment 76 through the cutter andfeeder.

Turning now to the drive mechanism for the cutter and feeder finger,which in the preferred embodiment, is driven from a single source, FIG.3 shows in chain link an oscillating lever arm 88 pivoted about a pin 90and reciprocated from a source (not shown) at an end 92 against aresilient spring 94, thereby providing a vertical reciprocating motionto the connecting rod 96 which is pivotally mounted to lever arm 88 atpivot pin 98 and pivotally mounted to a reciprocating wheel disc 100 ata headed pivot pin 102. Pivot pin 102 extends through disc 100 and isprovided at the outer side with a knob 104 which facilitates handoperation of the device in the event of jamming or the like.

Wheel disc 100 is axially mounted on frame 8 on an axial pin 106 whichhas an upset outer end 108 and an opposed end 110 which is provided witha slot into which one end of a torque spring 112 is fitted. An axialbushing 113 is also provided in which pin 106 is free to move. The otherend of spring 112 is secured to a spring housing 114 which is mounted onframe 8 by bolts 116 and 118.

Wheel disc 100 is free to move reciprocably through an arc of about 90about axial bushing 113, which is securely mounted on frame 8. It willbe noted that wheel disc 100 does not rotate about the bushing 113, forreasons which will be apparent hereinafter. The collared end 110 of pin106 is retained in contact with bushing 1 13 by the action of spring112. Wheel disc 100 is held in place on bushing 113 by a spring circlip115 and abutting surfaces 117.

The reciprocating action of wheel disc 100 causes a lateralreciprocating action of lever 30 by contact of cam 36, which is anintegral part of disc 100 and hence mounted on the same axial pin 106 inbushing 113 with the roller 32 on lever 30, thus effecting the drive forthe clamp and cutter action hereinbefore described.

A lever arm 120 is inserted into a circumferential segmental slot 122 indisc 100 so that it may be freely pivotally mounted on pin 106 and sothat disc 100 may reciprocate without engaging with the lever ann 120.The end of arm 120 remote from pin 106 is provided with an elongatedslot 124 in which a link pin 126 may slide. Link pin 126 connects arm120 to finger arm 78 so that finger arm 78, pivoted at 86, may bereciprocated in track 80.

FIG. 3 shows link 126 at the outward end of slot 124 and finger 78 abovethe track 80. FIG. 6 shows link 126 at the inward end of slot 124 andfinger 78 travelling in track 80. It will be noted, however, that arm120 is freely pivoted on pin 106 and hence does not transmit any powerfrom crankshaft 96 to the finger 78. Arm 120 merely guides and limitsthe motion of finger 78. A stop 128, of any suitable material such asnylon, on block 10 is provided to limit upward movement of arm on itsreturn to the rest position of FIGS. 3 and 6.

Drive is transmitted to am 120 by a second lever arm 130 which is keyedto upset end boss 108 by key 132. Clockwise movement of arm 130 causestorque to be applied to torque spring 112 which, upon removal of theapplied force, tends to move arm 130 anticlockwise (or upwards) to therest position shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 and maintain contact with lever arm120. Lever 130 is positioned in a recessed segment 134 of the outer faceof wheel disc 100, and wheel disc 100 is free to move independently oflever 130 between the limits of the faces 136 and 138 of the segmentrecess.

The outer or free end of arm 130 is provided with a safety interlock asshown in FIG. 7. A spring-loaded pin 140 having a chamfered head 142 isprovided in a housing 144. Chamfered head 142 is engaged in a contouredrecess 146 (FIGS. 7 and 12) in arm 120 so that, under normal operatingcondiu'ons, spring-loaded pin 142 holds anns 120 and 130 in superposedrelationship. A second spring-loaded pin 148 is also provided in housing144, this second pin having shoulders 150 which abut the lower edge ofarm 120, which abutment prevents pin 148 from protruding from housing144 to the full extent allowed by the length of the pin and a stopmember 152. The purpose of second pin 148 will be described hereinafter.

In operation, at the start of a cycle the clamping and cutting device isin position A as shown in FIG. 5 and disc 100 is in the position shownin FIG. 8 with arm 130 abutting face 138. As connecting rod 96 movesupward lever 30 moves block 28 forward to the clamping position 13,simultaneously disc 100 moves to the position shown in FIG. 9. Asmovement continues shearing occurs and disc 100 moves to the positionshown in FIG. 10. Blade 60 shoots forward to position C (FIG. 5) as disc100 moves to the position shown in FIG. 11 with face 136 abutting theupper surface of arm 130. Continued movement of disc 100 causes arms 120and 130 to rotate clockwise about pivot 106 by the pressure of face 136on arm 130. Link pin 126 slides downwardly in slot 124 driving finger 78into guide 8% and pushing segment 76 around the guide. As the rod 96starts its downward movement the sequence is reversed and arm 113i risesby the action of torque spring 112 so that it maintains contact withface 136 until stop 123 is reached and then disc 1% moves back to therest position shown in FIG. 8. The cycle can then be repeated.

in the event that the cutters jam or the finger 78 jams in the track 8dand the downward motion of arm 120 is stopped, the safety interlockcomes into play to prevent damage to the driving mechanism or the cutterand feeder. The head M2 of pin i410 rides out of recess 146 in which itis normally located as face 136 continues to push arm 130 downwards.Shoulder 150 disengages with the edge of arm 120 and spring-loaded pin14% extends under the action of the spring so that the end of pin 148slides over the face of block 82, as the downward motion continues untilpin 148 is in axial alignment with a lockhole 154. Pin M8 enters hole154 and remains firmly locked therein until stop member 152 is withdrawnby hand against the action of the spring. Thus a positive breaking andlocking action is achieved. Disc 100 can continue to reciprocate underthe action of the drive from shaft 96 but no drive is transmitted tofinger 78. As soon as a stoppage occurs the operator can quicklyvisually inspect the apparatus to ascertain the cause of the jam. Mostusually jams are caused by double feeding of a segment into the curvedtrack or by turning of a segment in the curved track. Such jams areeasily cleared by manually operating finger 78, without stopping driveshaft 88. Alternatively an airjet may be used to blow an obstructionclear. The machine may then be reset by withdrawing pin 1148 from hole154, raising arm 130 into superimposed relationship with arm 120 andreinserting head 142 in recess 146.

As will be appreciated many modifications to the apparatus are possibleand will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Forexample, a synchronized, but separate,

drive for the finger 78 may be employed. Alternatively two ormorecutters and finger guides could be operated in parallel from a singledrive means.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A combination cutting and feeding device comprising a straight firstguide means and a curved second guide means defining a material flowpath through said device; means to releasably clamp a strip of feedmaterial in said first guide means; means between said first guide meansand said second guide means to cut a predetermined length from the endof said strip and transfer said length into said curved second guidemeans, when said strip is clamped in said first guide means; fingermeans adapted to be moved into said flow path and along said curvedsecond guide means; and operating means to move said finger means intosaid flow path and along said curved second guide means when said lengthis transferred into said second guide means, whereby said length isurged along said curved second guide means to an exit from said flowpath.

2. A cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 1 including drivemeans operatively connected to said clamping means and said cuttingmeans.

3. A cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidfinger means is pivotally mounted on a frame and operatively connectedto said drive means.

4. A cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drivemeans is a reciprocating drive means.

5. A cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drivemeans comprises a reciprocating drive shaft; a cam means axially mountedon a frame and operatively connected to said drive shaft, and a levermeans pivotally mounted on said frame and resiliently urged against saidcam means; said lever means being resiliently associated with saidclamping means whereby said clamping means may reciprocate in said framebetween a rest position and a clamping position; said lever means alsobeing detachably secured to said cutting means whereby said cuttingmeans may reciprocate in said frame parallel to said clamping means andbetween a rest position an intermediate cutting position and a materialtransfer position.

6. A combination cutting and transfer device comprising a rigid frame; astraight first guide track member and a curved second guide track memberdetachably mounted on said frame and defining a material flow paththrough said device; clamping means, resiliently mounted in said frametransverse to said material flow path, adapted to releasably clamp astrip of feed material passing along said flow path against said firstguide member at predetermined intervals; a fixed cutting memberdetachably mounted in said frame parallel to said flow path downstreamof said clamping means; a reciprocating cutting member mounted in saidframe transverse to said flow path, and cooperating with said fixedcutting member to sever a predetermined length from said feed strip whensaid strip is clamped to said first guide member, said reciprocatingcutting member moving between a rest position out of said flow path, acutting position in said flow path and a transfer position out of saidflow path and remote from said rest position, said reciprocating cuttingmember being adapted to transfer said predetermined severed length intosaid curved guide track member; a finger member pivotally mounted onsaid frame and adapted to slide in said curved guide track and urge saidsevered lengths along said curved guide track to a fixed delivery pointfrom said flow path; and driving means operatively connected to saidclamping means, said reciprocating cutting member and said fingermember.

7. A combination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 6wherein said driving means comprises: a driven reciprocating meansmounted on an axis; a cam mounted on said axis and cooperating with saidreciprocating means and a first lever, pivotally mounted on said frame,to provide a reciprocating linear motion to said clamping means and saidreciprocating cutting member; and operating means including a secondlever, pivotally mounted at one end on said axis and slidably connectedto said finger member at its other end, operatively connected to saidreciprocating means whereby said means transmitsan arcuate reciprocatingmotion to said pivoted finger member which is synchronized to followsaid linear reciprocating motion of said clamping and cutting members.

8. A combination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 7wherein said operating means includes a third lever pivotally mounted onsaid axis and driven by said reciprocating means, releasably connectedto said second lever, whereby said arcuate reciprocating action istransmitted to said finger member.

9. A combination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 8wherein said third lever includes a first spring-loaded connecting pinadapted to releasably engage in a recess in said second lever wherebysaid arcuate reciprocating motion is transmitted from said drivenreciprocating means to said finger means and wherein said pin disengagesfrom said recess in the event said cutting member or said finger memberfail to operate.

10. A combination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 9including a second spring-loaded pin adapted to engage a recess in saidframe and secure said third lever thereto when said first spring-loadedpin disengages from said recess in said second lever wherebytransmission of said arcuate motion from said reciprocating means tosaid finger member is prevented.

11. A combination cutting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidcutting means includes: a reciprocating drive member having a recess anda pair of internal shoulders associated therewith; an elongated spacemember having, at one end thereof, a head portion adapted to be slidablyengaged in said recess, and at the other end thereof, a cutter insert;said spacer member being adapted to slide longitudinally in a thirdguide between a rest position and an extended position; and resilientmeans in said recess urging said head portion against said shoulderswhen said spacer is in said rest position; said head moving out ofcontact with said shoulders as said drive member and said spacer areadvanced from said rest position toward said extended position and saidcutter insert abuts said feed strip in said device whereby energy isstored in said resilient means, said energy being suddenly released whensaid cutter in combination with a fixed cutter in said first guide cutssaid feed strip so that said head again contacts said shoulders and saidspacer is advanced to said extended position.

12. A combination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 11wherein said resilient means comprises a compression spring.

13. A combination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 1 1including a stop means in said third guide to limit forward movement ofsaid spacer.

14. A cutting device comprising: a reciprocating drive member having arecess and a pair of internal shoulders associated therewith; anelongated spacer member having, at one end thereof, a head portion beingadapted to be slidably engaged in said recess; a cutter blade adapted tobe inserted into said spacer at the other end thereof, said spacer beingadapted to slide longitudinally in a guide between a rest position andan extended position; and resilient means in said recess urging saidhead against said shoulders when said spacer is in said rest position;said head moving out of contact with said shoulders as said drive memberand said spacer are advanced from said rest position toward saidextended position and said cutter blade abuts a feed strip to be cutwhereby energy is stored in said resilient means; said energy beingsuddenly released as said cutter blade severs said feed strip wherebysaid spacer and said blade are advanced to said extended position andsaid head again contacts said shoulders.

15. A cutting device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said resilient meansis a compression spring secured in said recess.

16. A cutting device as claimed in claim 14 including a stop means insaid guide to limit forward movement of said spacer to said extendedposition.

17. A cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 3 wherein saiddrive means is a reciprocating drive means.

18. A cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 3 wherein saiddrive means comprises a reciprocating drive shaft; a cam means axiallymounted on a frame and operatively connected to said drive shaft, and alever means pivotally mounted on said frame and resiliently urgedagainst said cam means; said lever means being resiliently associatedwith said clamping means whereby said clamping means may reciprocate insaid frame between a rest position and a clamping position; said levermeans also being detachably secured to said cutting means whereby saidcutting means may reciprocate in said frame parallel to said clampingmeans and between a rest position an intermediate cutting position and amaterial transfer position.

19. A cutting device as claimed in claim 15 including a stop means insaid guide to limit forward movement of said spacer to said extendedposition.

1. A combination cutting and feeding device comprising a straight firstguide means and a curved second guide means defining a material flowpath through said device; means to releasably clamp a strip of feedmaterial in said first guide means; means between said first guide meansand said second guide means to cut a predetermined length from the endof said strip and transfer said length into said curved second guidemeans, when said strip is clamped in said first guide means; fingermeans adapted to be moved into said flow path and along said curvedsecond guide means; and operating means to move said finger means intosaid flow path and along said curved second guide means when said lengthis transferred into said second guide means, whereby said length isurged along said curved second guide means to an exit from said flowpath.
 2. A cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 1 includingdrive means operatively connected to said clamping means and saidcutting means.
 3. A cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 2wherein said finger means is pivotally mounted on a frame andoperatively connected to said drive means.
 4. A cutting and feedingdevice as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drive means is a reciprocatingdrive means.
 5. A cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 2wherein said drive means comprises a reciprocating drive shaft; a cammeans axially mounted on a frame and operatively connected to said driveshaft, and a lever means pivotally mounted on said frame and resilientlyurged against said cam means; said lever means being resilientlyassociated with said clamping means whereby said clamping means mayreciprocate in said frame between a rest position and a clampingposition; said lever means also being detachably secured to said cuttingmeans whereby said cutting means may reciprocate in said frame parallelto said clamping means and between a rest position an intermediatecutting position and a material transfer position.
 6. A combinationcutting and transfer device comprising a rigid frame; a straight firstguide track member and a curved second guide track member detachablymounted on said frame and defining a material flow path through saiddevice; clamping means, resiliently mounted in said frame transverse tosaid material flow path, adapted to releasably clamp a strip of feedmaterial passing along said flow path against said first guide member atpredetermined intervals; a fixed cutting member detachably mounted insaid frame parallel to said flow path downstream of said clamping means;a reciprocating cutting member mounted in said frame transverse to saidflow path, and cooperating with said fixed cutting member to sever apredetermined length from said feed strip when said strip is clamped tosaid first guide member, said reciprocating cutting member movingbetween a rest position out of said flow path, a cutting position insaid flow path and a transfer position out of said flow path and remotefrom said rest position, said reciprocating cutting member being adaptedto transfer said predetermined severed length into said curved guidetrack member; a finger member pivotally mounted on said frame andadapted to slide in said curved guide track and urge said severedlengths along said curved guide track to a fixed delivery point fromsaid flow path; and driving means operativEly connected to said clampingmeans, said reciprocating cutting member and said finger member.
 7. Acombination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 6 whereinsaid driving means comprises: a driven reciprocating means mounted on anaxis; a cam mounted on said axis and cooperating with said reciprocatingmeans and a first lever, pivotally mounted on said frame, to provide areciprocating linear motion to said clamping means and saidreciprocating cutting member; and operating means including a secondlever, pivotally mounted at one end on said axis and slidably connectedto said finger member at its other end, operatively connected to saidreciprocating means whereby said means transmits an arcuatereciprocating motion to said pivoted finger member which is synchronizedto follow said linear reciprocating motion of said clamping and cuttingmembers.
 8. A combination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim7 wherein said operating means includes a third lever pivotally mountedon said axis and driven by said reciprocating means, releasablyconnected to said second lever, whereby said arcuate reciprocatingaction is transmitted to said finger member.
 9. A combination cuttingand feeding device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said third leverincludes a first spring-loaded connecting pin adapted to releasablyengage in a recess in said second lever whereby said arcuatereciprocating motion is transmitted from said driven reciprocating meansto said finger means and wherein said pin disengages from said recess inthe event said cutting member or said finger member fail to operate. 10.A combination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 9 includinga second spring-loaded pin adapted to engage a recess in said frame andsecure said third lever thereto when said first spring-loaded pindisengages from said recess in said second lever whereby transmission ofsaid arcuate motion from said reciprocating means to said finger memberis prevented.
 11. A combination cutting device as claimed in claim 1,wherein said cutting means includes: a reciprocating drive member havinga recess and a pair of internal shoulders associated therewith; anelongated space member having, at one end thereof, a head portionadapted to be slidably engaged in said recess, and at the other endthereof, a cutter insert; said spacer member being adapted to slidelongitudinally in a third guide between a rest position and an extendedposition; and resilient means in said recess urging said head portionagainst said shoulders when said spacer is in said rest position; saidhead moving out of contact with said shoulders as said drive member andsaid spacer are advanced from said rest position toward said extendedposition and said cutter insert abuts said feed strip in said devicewhereby energy is stored in said resilient means, said energy beingsuddenly released when said cutter in combination with a fixed cutter insaid first guide cuts said feed strip so that said head again contactssaid shoulders and said spacer is advanced to said extended position.12. A combination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 11wherein said resilient means comprises a compression spring.
 13. Acombination cutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 11 includinga stop means in said third guide to limit forward movement of saidspacer.
 14. A cutting device comprising: a reciprocating drive memberhaving a recess and a pair of internal shoulders associated therewith;an elongated spacer member having, at one end thereof, a head portionbeing adapted to be slidably engaged in said recess; a cutter bladeadapted to be inserted into said spacer at the other end thereof, saidspacer being adapted to slide longitudinally in a guide between a restposition and an extended position; and resilient means in said recessurging said head against said shoulders when said spacer is in said restposition; said head moving out of contact with said shoulders as saiddrive member and said spaceR are advanced from said rest position towardsaid extended position and said cutter blade abuts a feed strip to becut whereby energy is stored in said resilient means; said energy beingsuddenly released as said cutter blade severs said feed strip wherebysaid spacer and said blade are advanced to said extended position andsaid head again contacts said shoulders.
 15. A cutting device as claimedin claim 14 wherein said resilient means is a compression spring securedin said recess.
 16. A cutting device as claimed in claim 14 including astop means in said guide to limit forward movement of said spacer tosaid extended position.
 17. A cutting and feeding device as claimed inclaim 3 wherein said drive means is a reciprocating drive means.
 18. Acutting and feeding device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said drivemeans comprises a reciprocating drive shaft; a cam means axially mountedon a frame and operatively connected to said drive shaft, and a levermeans pivotally mounted on said frame and resiliently urged against saidcam means; said lever means being resiliently associated with saidclamping means whereby said clamping means may reciprocate in said framebetween a rest position and a clamping position; said lever means alsobeing detachably secured to said cutting means whereby said cuttingmeans may reciprocate in said frame parallel to said clamping means andbetween a rest position an intermediate cutting position and a materialtransfer position.
 19. A cutting device as claimed in claim 15 includinga stop means in said guide to limit forward movement of said spacer tosaid extended position.